29 Interesting Facts about Christmas
Fact #16
It was only when St Francis of Assisi introduced it in the 13th Century that Carols began to be sung in churches.
Fact #17
It was London’s Tom Smith who in 1847 made the first Christmas crackers. The cracker was based on the sweet wrapper design.
Fact #18
There are several theologians who believe that Jesus was born sometime in September between 6BC and 30AD, and not on December 25.
Fact #19
You would be surprised to know that the famous James Pierpont song “Jingle Bells” was originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” and was meant for Thanksgiving.
Fact #20
Santa Claus is based on St. Nikolas of Myra, who lived in the 4th century. He was born in modern-day Turkey, and is known to be the world’s most popular non-Biblical saint.
Fact #21
The tradition of hanging stockings on Christmas apparently comes from the story of 3 sisters. They could not get married since they were too poor to pay dowry. It was only when Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna (the precursor to Santa Claus) came down their chimney and filled their stockings with gold coins that their life changed for the better.
Fact #22
It is an interesting fact that being an environmentalist, in the year 1912 President Teddy Roosevelt banned Christmas trees from the White House.
Fact #23
In was in the year 1962 that the first Christmas postage stamp was issued in the United States.
Fact #24
The world’s biggest ever snowman was built by the residents of the state of Maine in America in the year 1999. This snowman was 113 feet tall.
Fact #25
Made by the Children’s Society in London in 2007, the world’s largest Christmas stocking measured 106 feet and 9 inches long and 49 feet and 1 inch wide. What’s more, it was as heavy as 5 reindeer and could hold about 1,000 presents.
Fact #26
The first Christmas card was invented in 1843 by British illustrator John Callcott Horsley. It was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole.
Fact #27
In the year 1886, the French gave the biggest Christmas present ever in the form of the Statue of Liberty.
Fact #28
It is interesting to know that the holly in a wreath is symbolic of Christ’s crown of thorns. Moreover, the red berries in the holly stand for the drops of Christ’s blood.
Fact #29
Many believe that the first North American Christmas carol was written in 1649 by John de Brebeur. It was called “Jesus is Born”.
